A TEAM of vets are today urging dog owners to vaccinate their pet pooches to protect them from a deadly infection which has recently claimed the life of two six-week-old Labrador puppies.

Two weeks ago the first six-week-old pup was taken into Highcliff Vets in Hadleigh suffering vomiting, diarrhoea and a disinterest in eating his food.

Forty-eight hours later his nine litter mates joined him.

Vet Gemma Ninnmey told the Star the tiny pups had to be treated in isolation after the team discovered they had the highly contagious Parvovirus.

She said it is vital dog owners have their pets vaccinated to prevent the vicious disease spreading.

“The virus is shed in large amounts in the stools of infected dogs, for several weeks after infection,” she said.

“When a dog licks the faecal matter off its hair or feet, they come into contact with the disease.

“Several things can contribute to the animals contracting Parvovirus, including stress, crowded conditions and low level of maternal antibodies.

“Sadly for these puppies, although their mother had the primary vaccination she had not had any regular boosters and therefore had lower immunity to the disease to pass on to the puppies.

“The puppies had also been exposed to areas of land where other unvaccinated dogs had been running around – another potential cause of the infection.

“Parvovirus is a potentially fatal disease. Sadly, the two we lost were just too ill and despite our best efforts they lost the battle.”

Highcliff Vets, which has practices in Hadleigh, Cliff Lane and Ellenbrook Green in Ipswich and Brantham – are offering reduced priced vaccinations in November for any owners who have let their dog or cat’s vaccinations lapse.